Safari Tourism Campaign

Elephant safaris seem like an exotic adventure. Behind the rides however, there are painful conditions that tourists are often unaware of.

Despite their great social skills, outstanding intelligence and environmental and religious relevance, captive elephants in South Nepal lack access to nutritious food, consideration of their social nature, chain free enclosures and humane management.

How is a wild animal, a giant jumbo, controlled by human beings? Like in most countries, in Nepal it’s done through food deprivation, confinement and regular beating, as well as physical restraint such as chaining and shackling.

Elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex emotions and social bonds. The above experiences can leave them traumatized, and highly unpredictable.

Some Jumbo Facts

Jumbos are overworked: Elephants conduct up to 7 trips, 7 days a week, carrying at least 4 people on their back. They often start their day before sunrise and come back after sunset.

Jumbos are beaten: Virtually all elephants are beaten with a bamboo stick on a daily basis. Some mahouts use the cruel ankush or bull hook.

Jumbos are made to perform: “Bathing with tourists” is in fact a performance and is highly stressful. Elephants DO NOT enjoy it.

Jumbos are chained: After a long day’s work, elephants return to their shelter, and are tied with (spiked) chains. They can hardly move and often stand in their urine, causing feet problems.